Fort Smith Adds Water Park Management To ‘Qualifications’ List

Fort Smith Adds Water Park Management To ‘Qualifications’ List

CHAD HUNTER • TIMES RECORD / An artist's rendering of an aquatics center, on display April 22, 2014, during a Fort Smith Board of Directors study session, lists features of the multimillion-dollar project.

The city and Sebastian County are splitting the $10.9 million cost to build an aquatics center at Ben Geren Regional Park on Zero Street. It’s expected to include a wave pool, water slides, “lazy river” and other features. Construction on the project began in March. An opening date is set for Memorial Day weekend 2015.

Although city leaders have expressed interest in hiring a management company to run the center, that decision has not been made.

“Now, since this ordinance is in place, we can send a request for qualifications to all these different companies that do this,” Dingman said.

Parks Director Mike Alsup recommended the move.

“The firm will represent the city to the citizens,” he wrote in a letter. “It is important that the staff represent the city in a professional and respectful manner, and that the park is operated in an efficient and productive manner.”

Alsup noted that the scope of work for a management company could include:

• Providing standard operating procedures for park operations.

• Concession stand operations.

• Receipts and deposits procedures.

• Training and staff scheduling.

• Marketing.

• Water quality.

Already allowed by the state for qualifications-based contracts are engineering, architectural design, legal and financial advisory services, according to the city.

“There are several listed in state law, then the city has added six additional professions into our ordinance,” Dingman said.

The city’s other additions include external accounting, consulting, title search and insurance, graphic design, software and website development, and advertising and video production.